“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.”  - Fred Rogers –
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As you may have heard or read, Icelanders in the Southwest corner of Iceland, a little town called Grindavík, are experiencing very troubling times with prolonged earthquakes that are practically ripping their town apart and the imminent danger of a large volcanic eruption, possibly right through the town center.

In the middle of covid we got a request for a horseback riding tour for one person. We were quite suprised as we did not expect anyone to come during the Covid season but we were very happy to confirm the request. The person we got was Kathi, a German women who had a bit of riding experience. She went with us to Reykjavik Riding secrets and we enjoyed her company very well. A year later she decided to come again and went on two tours with us, Riding the Rift valley and Tölt with glacier view. Now she owns two Icelandic horses and we are very proud that we got to introduce her to the Icelandic horse.

This is her story  

​Me and my boyfriend were thinking about going on a roadtrip and decided to go to Vík, since he has never been there and it‘s been quite a while since i went. 
 
So we packed our bags and put on our warm clothes and headed out. 

Vík is in South Iceland and the drive takes about 3 hours. The drive is an adventure in itself, as it offers breathtaking views of Iceland's diverse landscape and there are a few places that you can stop at and see. 

We often get the question: “What do you do with the old horses when they are no longer fit enough for the riding tours?” In our Animal Welfare Policy we have set ourselves clear welfare rules for our hotel riding tours. We do not ride younger horses than 8 years old (younger horses can come and run along) and not older than 20 but possibly up to 23 years old depending on their shape and stamina. Icelandic Horses mature late and often remain super healthy and fit even when they reach 20 years or more.

Ohhh it is still snowing in Iceland and I am getting quite sick of the snow and want the spring to arrive. Sometimes when the weather is extra cold i think back to the nice summer days of riding. One of my favorite memory is riding through the Húsafell area on our Tölt with glacier view tour.

The trail ride is beautiful and the view on those sunny days is extraordinary. On the way I see waterfalls, mountains and glaciers. This area is a true gem in iceland and definitely worth to check out even if your not on a horse. 

 It is often said that dog is the human´s best friend.  We at Exploring Iceland are so lucky to own a dog(s) and they can join us at the office!  And on the horseback riding tours as well. 
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Steinunn has two dogs. Stjarna who is an Australian shepard turning 11 years old this year. Stjarna spends most her time either sleeping or watching over the neighbourhood outside.  She also spends time in the stables with Steinunn and goes on our horse riding tours with hotel accommodation in the summer. 

​Iceland has become a popular travel destination over the past few years and tourism today is absolutely booming.
From stunning waterfalls and tranquil lakes, lava fields, beautiful mountains, massive glaciers, bubbling mud pools, and the largest hot spring area in the world, Iceland is a nature lover’s paradise and is unique in many ways.
But read on to discover some out-of-the-ordinary facts about the country that may surprise you.